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PRIMER ON FAMILIAR RULES 



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The lack of knowledge of the Rules of Golf among players has become 
notorious, and there are many who, while quite ignorant of a majority of the 
rules, do not hesitate to enter for Tournament play. These players turn in 
scores in accordance with which they are awarded prizes, but it may safely be 
said that if their method of play was analyzed it would probably show that 
during the round they had, because of tUeir ignorance of the rules, failed to add 
several penalty strokes to their score or had, perhaps, for the same reason dis- 
qualified themselves. 

A player should not only familiarize himself with the rules and follow 
them strictly, but should also take cognizance of the breach of any rule by 
his partner or by any other player entered in a tournament, and, with this 
idea in view, some of the more important rules as to penalties, etc., in both 
Medal Play and Match Play, have been selected and summarized herein (pp. 6 
to 20) for the information of those who are not familiar with them. 

A PLAYER WHO IS IGNORANT OF THE RULES GOVERNING 
THE PLAY SHOULD NOT ENTER A TOURNAMENT. 



The following are the breaches of the Rules of Golf in Medal Play most 
frequently noticed and, through ignorance or otherwise, many players fail 
to add the penalty strokes to their score: 

1. Player, when dropping ball, instead of facing the Jiole, standing erect 
and dropping it over his shoulder faces sideways or backwards, stoops or 
crouches and drops the ball over his arm in an endeavor to obtain as good a 
"lie" as possible. 

2. Player asks for or willingly receives advice from a competitor, or 
from someone other than his own caddie, as to the club which he should use 
for making a certain stroke, or as to how the stroke should be made, 

3. Player grounds his club in hunkers or roads. 

4. Player moves a stone, twig, leaf or something in a hazard, so as to 
improve the lie of his Mil. 

5. Player scrapes aside with his club leaves, twigs or other loose impedi- 
ments instead of lifting them by hand. 

6. Player, in order that competitor's ball may not strike his ball on the 
putting green, lifts his ball while that of the competitor is in motion instead of 
before his competitor putts. 



7. Player when addressing ball in play presses his club on the ground in- 
stead of grounding it lightly with not more than its own weight on the ground. 

8. Player touches or moves bushes, weeds, long grass, etc., more than is 
necessary to find the ball. 

9. Player bends or pushes aside or breaks oft bushes, twigs, branches, 
weeds, etc., which interfere with his stance or with the lie of his ball. 

10. Player tees and drives his ball from outside the limits of the teeing 
ground. 

11. Player removes a loose impediment lying more than a club length 
from his ball. (This is only permissible on the putting green), 

12. Player presses down with his club, or otherwise, irregular surfaces 
so as to improve the lie of his ball. 

13. Player presses down grass or ground at or near the edge of the hole 
to make a smoother surface for putting. 

14. Player removes mud or other substance from his ball, particularly on 
putting green. 



SOME PENALTIES, ETC., IN MEDAL PLAY AND IN 
MATCH PLAY. 

(NOTE.— For other penalties, etc. (there are many), see Rules of the United States Golf Association.) 

PENALTY. ETC. 



TEEING GROUND 

(NOTE. — The "teeing-ground" is a rectangular 
space of the depth of two club lengths directly 
behind the line indicated by the two marks.) 

If first stroke be played from out- 
side limits] of, 



If ball be played out of hounds 
from, 



If ball played from, be lost through 
the green (except in water, casual 
water, or out of bounds.) 



First stroke must be 
counted and second 
stroke must be play- 
ed from within lim- 
its. 

The stroke must be 
counted and another 
ball may be teed for 
next stroke. 

One Stroke and Dis- 
tance. 

Another ball must be 
teed as nearly as 
possible at spot from 
which lost ball was 
struck. 



Ball may be at once 
recalled by opponent 
and may then be re- 
teed without pen- 
alty. 

Same as in Medal 
Play. 



Loss of hole. 



PENALTY, ETC. 



HAZARD 

(NOTE. — A "hazavcl" is any bunker, water, (ex- 
cept casual water), ditch, (unless excepted ]>y 
local rule), bush, sand, path or road.) 

If club be grounded in, 

If loose impediment in, be removed, 

If, when playing ball in, it strike or 
be stopped by the player, his clubs, 
or his caddie, 

If bail in, move after player has 
taken his stance to iplay it, 

If, in the act of dropping a ball 
through the green, ball roll into. 

If ball lie in or be lost in casual 
ivater in, and a ball is dropped 
either behind the hazard or in the 
hazard, 



Medal Play 



Two stroke.s. 
Two strokes. 
One stroke. 

One stroke. 



Ball may be re- 
dropped without 
penalty. 



One stroke. 



Match Play 



Loss of hole. 
Loss of hole. 
Loss of hole. 



Same as in Medal 
Flay. 



PENALTY, ETC. 



CASUAL WATER 

(NOTE. — "Casual water" is any temporary accu- 
mulation of water (whether caused by rainfall, 
flooding, or otherwise) which is not one of the 
ordinary and recognized hazards of the course 
and which interferes with the lie of the ball or 
the stance of tlie player.) 



If ball lie in, or be lost in, in a 
hazard. (See Hazard.) 



If ball lie in, or be lost in, through 
the green and a ball is dropped 
within two club lengths of the 
margin, as neiar as possible to the 
spot where ithe ball lay, but not 
nearer to the hole, 



If ball when dropped rolls into, and 
is re-dropped, 



Match Play 



PENALTY. ETC. 



PUTTING GREEN 


Medal Play 


Match Play 






(NOTE. — The "Putting Green" Is all ground, ex- 
cept hazards, within twenty yards of the hole.) 






Playing on, or on to, any of the 
putting greens before starting on 
the day of the competition, 


Disqualification. 


None. 


(NOTE. — A local rule may, in the case of after- 
noon competitions, allow play on the course dur- 
ing the morning without penalty.) 






If a loose impediment on, (this in- 
cludes leaves) be scraped aside 


Two strokes. 


Loss of hole. 


with a cluh, 






(NOTE.— A loose impediment, except as below 
stated, must be lifted by hand.) 






Scraping aside with club dung, 


None. 


None. 


worm casts, snow or ice, 






(NOTE.— Club must not be laid with more than 
its own weight upon the ground.) 







PENALTY, ETC. 



PUTTING GREEN (Cont.) 

If the line of putt be touched (ex- 
cept by placing the club immedi- 
ately in front of the ball in the act 
of addressing it or to scrape aside 
with club dung, worm casts, snow 
or ice) or ground behind the 
hole be touched in order to point 
out the line of putt, by player or 
by his caddie, 

If anything on, be pressed down 
either with club or in any other 
way, 

If casual water intervenes between 
ball and hole, or ball is lying in 
casual water on, or it interferes 
with player's stance on, the ball 
may be lifted and placed as fol- 
lows : 

10 



Medal Play 


Malch Play 


Two strokes. 


Loss of hole. 


Two strokes. 


Loss of hole. 


None. 


None. 



PENALTY, ETC. 



PUTTING GREEN (Cont.) 

(1) Either within two lengths di- 
rectly behind the spot from which 
the ball was lifted, or 

(2) In the nearest position to that 
• spot which is not nearer to the 

hole and which laffords a putt to 
'the hole without casual water in- 
tervening, 



If his own ball be not holed out by 
competitor at every hole, 

If player play a stroke on, with ball 
other than his own, 

If player play two consecutive 
strokes, on, with ball other than 
his own. 



Med a l Play 



Disqualification. 



None. 
Ball must be replaced. 



Disqualification. 



11 



PENALTY, ETC. 



PUTTING GREEN (Cont.) 

If player play when his opponent 
should have done so, 

If, when, both balls are on, player's 
ball strike that of his competitor, 

If competitor whose ball is the near- 
er to the hole lift his ball while 
that of player is in motion^ 

When balls on, lie within six inches 
of each other, 



If mud adhere to a ball lying on, 
If ball lying on, be cleaned, 

(NOTE. — If mud or other substance adhere to a 
ball it must bo played as it is until holed out.) 



Medal Play 


Match Play 


None. 
Ball cannot be re- 
placed. 


None. 
Ball may be recalled 
by opponent. 


One stroke. 
Competitor's ball must 
be replaced. 

One stroke. 


None. 
Opponent may, if he 
choose, replace his 
ball. 
Loss of hole. 


Ball nearer to the hole 
may, at option of 
player or opponent, 

be lifted until other 
ball is played, and 
shall then be re- 
placed without pen- 
alty. 


Same as 
riay. 


in Medal 


Ball must be played as 
it is. 


Same as 
Play. 


in Medal 


Disqualification. 


Loss of hole. 



12 



PENALTY. ETC. 



GENERAL 

In Medal Play a ball may be lifted 
irom any place on the course un- 
der penalty of two strokes, 

"If a player lift a ball in accordance with this 
rule, he shall tee and play a ball behind the 
place from which the ball was lifted; if this 
be impossible he shall tee and play a ball as near 
as possible to the place from which the ball was 
lifted, but not nearer to the hole." 



If competitor discontinue play or de- 
lay to start on account of had 
weather, 

If score for each hole be not kept 
by marker or by each competitor 
noting the other's score and la 
signed card handed in on com- 
pletion of the stipulated round, 



(NOTE. — A caddie cannot 
"marker.") 



be considered a 



Medal Play 



Two strokes. 



Disqualification. 



Disqualification 
both players. 



Match Play 



Loss of match. 



13 



PENALTY, ETC. 



GENERAL (Cont.) 

If competitors (unless allowed by 
local rule) play other than in 
couples, 



Playing intentionally at any hole 
oif the stipulated round within 
players' reach, before starting on 
on day of completion, 

(NOTE. — A local rule may, in the case of after- 
noon competitions, allow play on the course 
during the morning without penalty.) 

If player ask for or willingly receive 
advice from anyone except his 
own caddie. 

(NOTE. — "Advice" is any counsel or suggestion 
wiiieh could influence a player in determining 
the line of play, in the choice of a club, or In 
the method of making a stroke.) 

14 



M^dal Play 



Disqualification. 



Disqualification. 



Disqualification. 



Match Play 



Loss of hole. 



PENALTY, ETC. 



GENERAL (Cont.) 

If practice swing be made throug-h 
the green within club length of 
ball and in doing so anything 
jaxed or growing is moved, hent 
or broken. 

If ball is lost (except in water, 
casual water or out of bounds), 



If competitor's ball strike or be 
stopped by himself, his clubs, golf 
bag or by his caddie, 

If competitor's ball strike or be 
stopped by another competitor or 
by another competitor's caddie, 
clubs or golf bag, 



Medal Play 



Two strokes. 



One stroke and dis- 
tance. Another ball 
must be teed 
nearly as possible at 
spot from which lost 
ball was struck. 



One stroke. 



None. 
Ball must be played 
from spot where it 
lies. 



Loss of hole. 



Loss of hole. 



Loss of hole 



Opponent loses hole. 



15 



PENALTY, ETC. 



GENERAL (Cont.) 

If in searching for his ball a player 
or his caddie accidentally move 
it, 

If player or his caddie when search- 
ing for opponent's ball accident- 
ally move it, 

If, when ball is in play, player or 
his caddie a,ccidentally move his 
ball by touching it or by touching 
anything cause it to move. 

If player press club on the ground 
instead of grounding it lightly, 



If ball be 
spooned, 

16 



pushed, scraped or 



Medal Play 


Match Play 


One stroke. 
Ball must be played as 
it lies. 


Same as 
Play. 


in medal 


None. 
Ball must be replaced. 


Same as 
Play. 


in Medal 


One stroke. 
Ball must be played as 
it lies. 


Same as 
Play. 


in Medal 


Two strokes. 


Loss of hole. 


Two strokes. 


Loss of hole. 



PENALTY. ETC. 



GENERAL (Cont.) 

Touching bushes, long grass, or the 
like, more than necessary to find 
ball lying in them. 

Removing loose impediment from 
through the green which is mo7^e 
than a cluh length from the ball, 

If mud adhere to a ball, 

If ball while in play be cleaned, 

(NOTE. — If mud or other substance adhere to a 
baU it must be played as it is until holed out.) 

If ball be played out of hounds, 

(NOTE.— See also "Teeing-Ground.") 



Medal Play 


Match Play 


One stroke. 


One stroke. 


Two strokes. 


Loss of hole. 


Ball must be played as 
it lies. 


Same as in Medal 
Play. 


Disqualification. 


Loss of hole. 


The stroke must be 
counted and another 
ball dropped for next 
stroke as nearly as 
possible at spot from 
which ball was 
played out of bounds. 


Same as in Medal 
Play. 



17 



PENALTY, ETC. 



If competitor play through the 
green a stroke with ball other 
than his own, 

18 



GENERAL (Cont.) 

If ball lying within twenty yards of 
the hole is played and strikes 
either the flag-stick or the person 
standing at the hole, j 

(NOTE.— Neglect on the part of the person | 
standing at the hole does not exempt the com- j 
petitor from incurring the penalty.) 

Lifting ball for identification and 
replacing it except in presence of 
competitor, 



Lifting ball for identification with- 
out consent of opponent, 



Med al Play 



Two strokes. 



One stroke. 



Loss of hole by player 
whose caddie is 
standing at hole. 



Match Play 



Loss of hole. 



None. 
Provided he then play 
his own ball. 



PENALTY, ETC. 



GENERAL (Cont.) 


Medal Play 


Match Play 






If competitor play through the 
green ttoo consecutive strokes 
with ball other than his own, 


Disqualification. 






(NOTE.— A special rule applies when wrong ball 
is playeil in a hazard.) 






If ball in play move after player 
has taken his stance but before 
he has grounded his club to ad- 
dress it, 


None. 


None. 


(NOTE.— For penalt.v in case of ball moving in a 
hazard after stance has been taken, see 
"Hazard.") 






If ball in play move after player 
has grounded his club in act of 
addressing it. 


Loss of hole. 


One stroke. 



19 



PENALTY, ETC. 



GENERAL (Cont.^ 

When balls lie within a cluh length 
of each other through the green, 



If ball is not dropped in the manner 
provided for in Rule 8, viz.: by 
player facing the hole, standing 
erect, and dropping tne ball be- 
hind him over his shoulder, 

If ball craok or becomes unfit for 
play, 

(NOTE.— Mud adhering to a ball shall not be 
considered as malting it unfit for play.) 

If ball split into separate piece's, 



Medal Play 



Ball nearer the hole 
may, at option of 
player, or opponent, 
be lifted until other 
ball is played and 
shall then be re- 
placed without pen- 
alty. 

Two strokes. 



Player may, without 
penalty, change ball 
on intimating- to op- 
ponent his intention 
to do so. 

Another ball, may 
without penalty, be 
dropped where any 
piece lies. 



Same 
Play. 



Match Play 



Loss of hole. 



Same 
Play. 



Same 
Play 



as m Medal 



as in Medal 



20 



